more from W.H. Newton-Smith

Single Idea 3861

[catalogued under 3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 6. Verisimilitude]

Full Idea

We cannot explicate a useful notion of verisimilitude in terms of the number of truths and the number of falsehoods generated by a theory, because they are infinite.

Clarification

'Verisimilitude' is the idea of 'tending towards to the truth', or getting closer to it

Gist of Idea

Theories generate infinite truths and falsehoods, so they cannot be used to assess probability

Source

W.H. Newton-Smith (The Rationality of Science [1981], III.4)

Book Reference

Newton-Smith,W.H.: 'The Rationality of Science' [RKP 1981], p.55